Organic carbon sources are the key factor in optimizing the biofloc system conditions. Our concern was to study the effect of different carbon sources on biofloc conditions and tilapia performance.
Biofloc treatments with five different organic carbon simple sources (glucose, molasses) and complex sources (starch, wheat bran, cellulose) were conducted in presence of control (clear water). No
significant differences (p > 0.05) were noticed among different organic carbon sources regarding tilapia performance. Complex carbon source represented in wheat bran and cellulose showed less fluctuation in the values of NH4+ and No2 during the experimental period than the other carbon sources. The
precipitated biofloc from both wheat bran and cellulose showed the highest fat content (8.08 and 7.72 respectively). In terms of heterotrophic bacteria production, plankton count and biofloc nutritional content, cellulose seems to be the better choice. From the nutritional and economical points of view, using agriculture by product with high cellulose content as a carbon source in biofloc system is more reasonable, guarantee positive environmental impact and aquaculture sustainability.